The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-08-21
TAXES.
Can Old Things he Made New f-The Pre-
posed Medieval Revival.

The theories OF land tenure and taxation,
put forward by Henry George. offer q good
subject Tor discussion. They are worth dis
cussinH, however. not because there 10 any
probability Of their being adopted or even
seriously entertained. In this or any other
country, but because they involve . study Of
rudime ntary principles which lead up TO
more Intelligent comprehensive OF prevailing
systems. They carry us back to those remote
periods In history whom society was In Its
earlier formative process. and compel US to re-
call events that arc readily forgotten.
Land. OF course Ia always nationalized. or
held by communal tenure. in the beginning OF
social organization. There Is probably not .
tribe OF savages In Central Africa that does not
claim for lramplng ground a territorial domain
largely In excess Of the surface actually occu-
pied. On this territory they would resent, I'M
der the lead OF their king. any intrusion from o
rival tribe: and here IL the beginning OF the
theory OF eminent domain. theory maintain
ed under the most advanced stages OF civiza-
ton yet reached but which declines contin-
ually, In the force Of its application, as the
world grows and liberty learns TO encroach
upon Drerogativo. But even over the territory
actually covered by population. or utilized in
accordance with savage methods for gaining a
substance. there can be no formal titles to
In physical prowess and both intent on spear-
Ing ish. wished to build a hut on q promontory
juttinR out into tho Congo River, and only
large enough for one hut they would End
themselves In dilemma. Were they not
equally matched an arrangement would be
Wait Ii. Il hs bs
mud. bamboo. and thatch. Then he would ct
oan on. take nossssssion Of both land and mate.
equally matched, they have 90 alternative
save n an r19psal to the king, Hs = a psssop-
he Is the state: but more potent even than L
ordnde In0narQue he 10 the universal landlord.
sia the appeal sacisntiy proves He viii de-
!hinss the best fisherman. and best able to
e sont supplies Of treah suckers for the
always u consideration Involved.
We see. therei9re, that the idea Of the nation
recall the fact that the land OF ali England,
4 ~ the battle OF Hastings. was claimed by
W. Miam the EonEueror who pr2.ssdsd to Giys
no Iuit-caim deeds. There were onerous con-
through ali the centuries That have followed.
Including the date OF Magma Chnrta. herce
IN Frs
meaning to this conflict. which has finally OK
tended across the Irish Channel, and Gull
conflict for the complete denationall satlon
Of land. for Its entire snfranc hisement from
agent. and It's com plste investure In the hands
OF tho men who wish to utilize 1t for tpe pur-
the exc.ys or 81 INV Sas "a wnr,h
less; and to the degree that 1t romans under
tho control Of the state, through privileged
Iessness will be found attaching to the title.
1t must be free upon tho market, absolutely
mate demand fu o! Complete l%erty; and the
men who are working to simplify the system
q q lan a. transfer are better philanthropi'ts
But to the question of taxation. Progress
and Poverty us queer book; an exceedingly
boundaries Of political economy. Its author is
Iiticai eeonomst He Is specuator in the DO DO
main OF social science. and . contributor to
the altogether fnntastical and imperislis!ic no
t1ons that go to make up the consensus OF state
| socialism. But into the concrete realm OF facts
and figures which we denonina,e political
the desl, elton Of wealth. He would restore
new objects and upon different line Of policy.
This may represent high order Of intelli;;
6us + Is no, and
As TO the book called Progress and Poverty"
schoolmasier., Il, wa. a, work wherein 6y
economy, and should at least have familarized
NJ hm sh s mel and the "a
this ,writin. Just how far he has learned to
spell correctly There has been no spelling
be=innin; to ,Ieine the boundaries OF hi. Or
dication OF soms progress, out Of his, former
1WS,npmie poverty Lie the citizen it, Of
sa IN other w4' days. and The was taught
to be- cautious in tackiing National inteiii
gene Mr. George tried apparently, to skip
to limit Tim ,sif to the more comprshensbe
compound OF letters, to be found in the word
correety 10 only nj tfsd at to ' sp. eonssteny
with the system which he wrongly Invented
ss to- to tho spss
been his state Of mind last fall. recent dsclara.
ever sS S sdn any r ne in Il.
sfs s tax 'ss1saaS II Th %a T Ssyond
tho reach Of human Invention. Ihs, wisest
s sys ss.R" on a snes
| would be good policy to tax anything that
spuH b IN the form 2,
necessities OF revenue. some Communities
| will need ,nore and some fewer expsdients. nc-
but thoy will Va nothin9 Al al il they waste
time In poleHics. and tax only those who think
But after Al i is probable that the present
system OF taxation + much more nearly eIpi.
| the tax on Consumption is the ideal system,
since 1t enables every man to contribute to the
! expenditures, which will usually be regulated
by his means: but taxes, Wherever imposed,
have a wonderful trick OF distributing thsm
selves and oppeiling great number OF per
the pa sen GERS will be, asked to. con
tribute their quota to the quota OF the
| stockho! dsrs: II YOU tax tho land.
the andholdsr will tell you thar .you cannot nx
| the dividing line between land and improve
| ments, and that the Improvements alao must
| pay and II you tax the improvements. the ton
| ants must join their contrbuti IN to the coptrt
button az tho owner to make up tha total. 1t Ia
| a process of distribution from beginning to
end and the only men who escape are tho men
who hold property which they can spirit away.
| But the most eluitable system in the world
will not secure justice against perlurers.
This reasoning will be found unsatisfactory
| to all men who wish 10 s.cape taxation, and II
| OF the sentmentalism OF he times. IT Is IN
| accordance wi h tho cant OF the period to hold
| that the rich only should pay taxes, the poor
being made exempt on account Of their poverty.